Sports Notebook: Carrollwood High School Football

Gaither High:

The Cowboys (6-3, 4-1 Class 7A-District 7) came up a few inches short of what would have been a game-tying field goal in a last week in the District 7 championship.

"Our defense played awesome, we just left them on the field too long," said head coach Jason Stokes.

More important than the stellar play of the defense was Gaither proving a certain degree of legitimacy. The soft schedule has always been a knock on the Gaither football team. It showed last Friday that it could hang with the top team in the district and a top 10-ranked Hillsborough County team, according to both the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Times.

"We've opened some eyes with the wins this year, but we haven't really won a big game yet," Stokes said.

The Cowboys will coast into the postseason this Thursday, Nov. 10, as they host Riverview (2-8, 0-5 Class 7A-District 8) to close out the regular season with virtually nothing on the line.

"I want to get out of that game with a win and no injuries; win first, then no injuries," Stokes said.

It hurts coming so close to a district title, but Gaither football is back on the map and heading into its first postseason since 2007.

"We're learning how to win," Stokes said.

There's always a chance they could get another shot at Tech. If both Gaither and Tech win their regional quarterfinals Nov. 18, they will face off in the regional semis.

Carrollwood Day School

The Patriots went out on a high note in a 28-21 victory over Calvary Christian to close out the 2011 season.

"It was a pretty fitting end to the season," said head coach Lane McLaughlin.

In the fourth quarter, senior captian Deuce Gruden marched his team down the field and capped the drive with a touchdown pass to fellow senior Dillon Floyd.

"It was nice that Dillon's last catch at CDS was a touchdown and Deuce's last pass was a touchdown," McLaughlin said.

The program has come a long way since the six-man teams that they played with for the senior class' freshman year, all the way to a fourth-place finish in Class 2A-District 5.

"We started this football program as a six-man team, progressed into an 11-man team, and we've built a core of strong players over the years," McLaughlin said.

The Patriots wrap this season with high hopes for the next one. According to McLaughlin, he has 12 juniors returning next year, a luxury never afforded CDS in school history.

It was an emotional send-off last Friday as McLaughlin gave his final postgame speech to many of his players.

"You look at those kids and you realize how much you have invested in them and them in you; it's tough," said McLaughlin. "It's like your second family for four years."